Published on December 15, 2025 by Joelle Youngblood  
Lysa Terkeurst Headshot

Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education will welcome Lysa TerKeurst as its keynote speaker for the 15th Annual Tom and Marla Corts Distinguished Author Series, March 3, 2026. TerKeurst is a nationally recognized author and speaker whose work engages faith, leadership and personal formation. 

She serves as president and chief visionary officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries and is a seven-time New York Times bestselling author, whose books include Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, and Uninvited. Her writing explores themes of resilience, forgiveness and emotional well-being through a biblically grounded framework that resonates across educational, leadership and ministry contexts.  

TICKETS: Reserve seats for an evening with keynote speaker Lysa TerKeurst 

In honor of Tom and Marla Corts, the Corts Distinguished Author Series enriches the intellectual and spiritual lives of Samford students and the broader community by featuring authors of inspirational works. Past speakers included former First Lady Laura Bush, Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy winner and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, and Collin Hansen, vice president for content and editor-in-chief of The Gospel Coalition. 

Continuing the Corts Series tradition of connecting audiences with stories that encourage reflection, TerKeurst’s lecture will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue, as well as intellectual and spiritual formation. 

Tickets for the event are available, with limited seating at Samford’s Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center. Attendees are encouraged to reserve their spots early to ensure participation in this compelling evening of faith and storytelling. 

Contact Kathy Acton at kacton@samford.edu with questions about the event. 

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.